Tourism Ireland, Marketing the Island of Ireland Overseas

Ireland Scoops Travel Awards in China

07 Jan 2011

Ireland has been voted “Most Popular Destination 2010” at a high profile awards ceremony in Shanghai. The annual awards, the SPECIAL TRIP: WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS, are organised by the Oriental Morning Post, a popular daily newspaper in Shanghai with about 400,000 readers. The awards celebrate excellence in travel and the winners are voted by readers of the newspaper as well as travel specialists from around China.

Accepting the award, Susan Li, Tourism Ireland China, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ireland has been singled out for this prestigious award. Tourism Ireland has been working hard to build awareness of the island of Ireland as a premier holiday destination in China. I am confident that this award will enhance the reputation of the island of Ireland and help to attract more Chinese visitors in 2011 and beyond.”

And, in a recent survey carried out by Life Style, a leading Beijing newspaper with a circulation of about 300,000, Ireland was rated the “Destination with the Most Potential for 2011”.

In addition, Tourism Ireland was awarded “Most Creative Destination” by national newspaper Global Times at the MOST POPULAR OUTBOUND DESTINATION AWARDS 2010 in Beijing – in recognition of promotional campaigns and activity undertaken by Tourism Ireland in China during 2010 and voted for by travel professionals and readers of the newspaper.

Accepting the ‘most popular destination’ award for the island of Ireland in Shanghai is Susan Li, Tourism Ireland (second from right).

Note to Editors:
• Tourism Ireland is the organisation responsible for promoting the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination.
• Tourism is the island of Ireland’s largest indigenous industry; responsible for in excess of 4% of GNP in the Republic of Ireland and employing approximately 200,000 people.
• 7.6 million overseas visitors came to the island of Ireland in 2009, delivering revenue of €3.46 billion.
• Tourism Ireland’s international website is www.discoverireland.com; there are 42 different websites, providing information in 20 different languages covering every continent. In 2009 discoverireland.com attracted a record 13+ million unique visitors, a +34% increase in visits on 2008.